Nikola Jokic addressed the Denver Nuggets’ 117-83 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series, a game that saw the Clippers take control after a dominant run. Despite his triple-double performance, Jokic and his teammates struggled to recover after a key stretch in the second quarter.
In a candid post-game interview, Jokic was asked if he needed to be more aggressive as a scorer given the Clippers’ defensive focus on him. “I’m just trying to play the game how I know to play the game,” Jokic said. He emphasized the importance of creating open looks for his teammates and being satisfied with those opportunities, regardless of whether shots fall.
Jokic also noted a pivotal moment in the game when the Clippers took a 7-0 run early in the second quarter. “James Harden had two threes in a row at the end of the first quarter, and they went on a 7-0 run,” Jokic recalled. “We had a turnover, missed a shot… they had a really good run, and we didn’t recover from that.”
The Nuggets now face a 2-1 deficit in the series, and Jokic is determined to remain composed for Game 4. “I didn’t say anything [in the locker room]. I think everybody needs to step up,” he said. “They were better than us today in every aspect of the game. We need to play together and be more like fighter basketball.”
The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, dominated the game with strong performances from James Harden and Norman Powell, who each added 20 points. The Clippers also excelled beyond the arc, hitting 18 three-pointers compared to the Nuggets’ seven.
Jokic, who finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists, reflected on the team’s struggles to defend the three-point line, a key area where the Clippers exploited their defense. “We need to be more detailed,” Jokic noted, pointing to some miscommunications that allowed the Clippers to get wide-open looks.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Jokic expressed confidence in the Nuggets’ ability to bounce back, drawing from past experiences. “We’ve been in this situation before, not just in the playoffs, but even in the season,” he said. “We always answer back, and hopefully, we’re going to do it again.”
With less than 48 hours before the next game, Jokic emphasized the importance of getting physically prepared for the next challenge. The Nuggets will need to regroup quickly after their tough loss and come out stronger in the next matchup at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome.
